Program Director (Career Accelerator)

Program Director (Career Accelerator)

Title : Program Director
Location : Washington, DC (in‑person, visa sponsorship available)
Job Type : Full time
Salary : $110k‑$150k+ (healthcare and retirement contributions included)
Application Deadline : Sunday, February 8, 2026

About the Role

The Horizon Institute for Public Service is a non‑profit that supports emerging technology policy talent. The Career Accelerator is a part‑time, remote program that provides mentorship, training, application support and career development grants of up to $100,000 per participant to help people at all career stages pursue AI policy opportunities. Since launching in April 2025 we served 45 participants in the second cohort, approved 15 career grants and are now aiming to run 3‑4 cohorts per year, serving 100‑150 participants and distributing $1+ million in career grants annually. As Program Director, you will own strategy, operations, grant‑making and participant success and have latitude to shape the program as it scales.

Responsibilities

• Own and refine the program strategy, set quarterly goals, evaluate impact, and iterate on design based on participant outcomes and feedback.
• Oversee the career grants program, review funding requests, make funding decisions in coordination with Horizon leadership and develop systems to scale grant‑making to $1 million+ annually.
• Run multiple application cycles per year, scale the program toward 100‑150+ participants annually while ensuring a smooth application process and serving as an effective talent identification mechanism.
• Build and manage the infrastructure that enables participant success, including training modules, mentorship matching and career advising; cultivate relationships with external mentors and coaches and provide direct advising to participants.
• Build and maintain relationships with hiring managers, mentors, partner organizations and policy professionals to expand opportunities for participants; develop strategies to engage program alumni, nurturing a community that supports each other and contributes back to the program.

Qualifications

• Excel at project management and can oversee complex projects with many interdependent deadlines.
• Are skilled at recruiting and candidate assessment with strong judgment about what makes someone likely to succeed in policy roles.
• Enjoy user‑centered design, conduct user research, prototype and test new ideas, and iterate to build highly effective products and programs.
• Are excited to advise participants 1‑1 on policy careers, developing fluency across AI policy paths so you can guide both early‑career and experienced professionals.
• Can communicate professionally with diverse stakeholders.
• Can cultivate and maintain a network of external relationships with mentors, hiring managers and others who can help participants find opportunities.
• Have a demonstrated interest in policy/government and/or AI, including at least 1 year of relevant experience (strongly desired).
• Are entrepreneurial, a team player, growth‑minded and excited to give and receive regular feedback.
• Can work in‑person in Washington, DC.
• Visa sponsorship available for qualified candidates.

Culture & Benefits

• Unlimited vacation.
• 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
• Up to $3,000+ per year in professional development funding.
• Flexible working hours.
• A productive, collaborative office.
• Benefits‑equivalent cash stipend that can be used to purchase any of the DC public market health insurance plans or contributed to a retirement account of your choosing.

Application Process

Interested candidates should express initial interest by filling out an application. The application involves paid work tests, a structured interview, reference checks and a paid in‑person work trial. We will acknowledge receipt of all applications and aim to get back to candidates within 10 business days of the application deadline. Our ideal start date is April 2026, though flexibility is offered for exceptional candidates.

We welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. Strong candidates may not always fulfill all required or desired criteria. Studies show that individuals from underrepresented groups may underestimate their qualifications. Therefore, we urge you not to self‑disqualify prematurely. If you are excited about this work, we strongly encourage you to apply.